Package

ABSTRACT

Dispenser package for razor blade units, the package having resilient recessed lugs for receiving and retaining opposite sides of the blade units.

[4 1 Mar. 19, 1974 United StatesPatent. i191 Petrillo ARRJR 402 0 wms m 206w0 22W 2 2 2 u mmnmn m .3 m N r T. mE la" S mm m M nmm D T .mstm H C e TH A [I mwwm m m Med m aiummo H E l ll mKGHw M. A 83 r m/M65 W0 wwww nt WWNWW mm 1 a8 BA muum y, WM 25389 r 75384 7 .3 H 32332 PA 92 9 B$ M ww ZZMA n. a 2 6 e 0 7 H6 M 2 9 0 0 v. w 0% N m 9 0 h m. 3 1 l d/ m 0 6 5% C 2 5 6 e 7 3 P. 9 H L w M 0m l u 6 0 d 7 r .2 8 m s n .m m a m m R TM A 2 B m U n G m 0 A m m N L m K n g L C .l d d C w s k W S Ld A n S i A n 1 1 1 1 1] 4 3 2 1 2 l8 5 7 7 2 2 5 Dispenser package for razor blzide units, the package 206/632 R; 220/ R, 4 A; 221/102; 30/402 having resilient recessed lugs for receiving and retaining opposite sides of the blade units.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 16 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures 3.606.006 9/1971 Raybois;.i...............l.........206/A 1 PACKAGE This invention relates to razor blade dispenser packages useful with shaving systems of the sort having a replaceable blade-carrying frame mountable on a handle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In one aspect the invention features a dispenser package having separate base and body members which are assembled after installation of the blade units on the base, the body providing breakaway tabs which overlie the packaged blade units opposite the base floor. In another aspect the invention features resilient, blade unitretaining lugs which extend upwardly from a package floor and provide opposing recesses for receiving opposite sides of the blade unit, the recesses having sloping walls which contact the blade units at areas beyond the ends of the shaving edges and act as cam surfaces to permit blade unit withdrawal by a linear or pivotal lugflexing movement of a unit away from the package floor, the lugs also having reversely sloping cam surfaces at their free ends to'permit blade unit installation in the package by a lug-flexing movement toward the package floor. In one preferred embodiment the package floor hasblade unit-receiving hollows between opposing sets of retaining lugs; the package base has chamfered lateral projections which snap into recesses in opposite walls of the package body; retaining lugs are provided adjacent the four comers of each blade unit, some of the lugs being located between two blade units and serving in double-sided fashion as retainers for both of those units; and the breakaway tabs taper along their bottom surfaces toward concave fingerreceiving front edges.

Other advantages and features of the .invention will be apparent from the description and drawings herein of particular preferred embodiment thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION oF THE DRAWINGS FIG] is a perspective view, partially broken away, of one embodiment of a dispenser package containing five'blade units;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the base portion of the package of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the body portion of the package of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, exploded perspective view of a blade unit and handle;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along 5-5 of FIG. 1; 1

FIG. 6 is a sectional, fragmentary view taken along 6-6 of FIG. 1 with the addition of a handle connected to a blade unit in the process of being removed from the package;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view, partially broken away, of a second preferred embodiment of a dispenser package containing, for purposes of illustration, a single blade unit; and V i FIG. 8 is a sectional, fragmentary view taken at 8-8 of FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF PARTICULAR PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIGS. l-6, dispenser package 10 consists of a base 12 and a body 14, separately molded of suitable plastic .(e.g., high impact styrene), and held together mechanically as described below.

Base 12 hasa generally planar floor 16 and six hollows 18 each dimensioned to receive the rounded bottom of a blade unit 20. Hollows 18 are arranged in three end-to-end pairs, and adjacent the ends of each long edge 22 of each recess are upstanding resilient lugs 24, 26 integral with floor 16 (FIG. 2). The eight outermost lugs 24 (i.e., those located between a hollow 18 and an edge 27 of floor 16) each have a pair of ridges 30, 32 which extend out over floor 16 and are spaced apart in a direction normal to the floor to define a recess 34 dimensioned to receive one side 36 (FIG. 1) of blade unit 20. Ridges and 32 are tapered in cross-section, so that recess 34 has sloping side walls and the free end of the lug has a sloping surface 38, all to facilitate manipulation of unit 20 as described below. Interior lugs 26 (i.e., those located between two hollows 18) are two-sided versions of lugs 24, and each provides a first recess 40 (with sloping side walls 41) aligned with an opposing recess 34, and a second recess 42 (with sloping side walls 43) aligned with an opposing recess 42 of another lug 26. Sloping surfaces 44 correspond to surfaces 38.

Along the two edges 27 of floor 16 are provided a total of four base-retaining projections 50, each located midway between a pair of lugs 24. Each projection is raised above floor 16, overhangs the adjacent edge 27, and has its surface that faces away from the floor chamfered at 52.

Body 14 (FIG. 3) is of overall rectangular form matching that of base 12, and includes end walls and 62, side walls 64 and 66, and a dividing wall 68 parallel to and midway between walls 60 and 62. Walls 64 and 66 have near their lower edges recesses 70 to receive projections 50 of base 12. Walls 64 and 66 also are recessed at 67 directly adjacent walls 60 and 62 and both sides of wall 68, to allow the flexure of lugs 24 described below. Projecting inwardly from the top edge of wall 60 are three breakaway tabs 72 integral with wall 60 through narrow necks 74 and located to be aligned above three corresponding hollows 18 when base 12 is installed in body 14. Two additional tabs 72 project inwardly from wall 62 above the positions of two of the remaining three recesses 18. Each tab 72 tapers along its bottom surface 76 toward a concave front edge 78.

The dispenser package of the invention is particularly suitable for use with a razor assembly including a blade unit 20 (FIG. 4) with a pair of closely spaced parallel blades'l00 exposed on each side and a latch member 102 (FIG. 6) located in a central recess 104, and a handle 106 with a head 108 dimensioned to fit in recess 104 and having spring biased latch members 112 for grasping member 102 to secure the handle to the blade unit. Blade unit frame 114 has guard portions 116 located beyond the ends of blades and protruding forward of the blade edges.

The dispenser package is assembled by first installing five blade units 20 in base 12, each in position'to be below a tab 72 when the base is installed in body 14. Each blade unit is simply pressed toward wall 16 between opposing lugs 24, 26 at its four corners; surfaces 38, 44 act as eam surfaces and enable units 20 to force the lugs apart as they snap into recesses 34, 40, or 42. Surfaces 35, 41, and 43 contact units 20 at guard portions 116 and keep the blade edges out of contact with the lug surfaces, thus protecting the blades. Alternatively, units 20 can be installed by first inserting one side of the unit into a pair of recesses 34, 40, or 42, and then snapping the other side of the unit into the corresponding lug recesses adjacent that side by a pivotal movement. Portions 116 are rounded to fit snugly in the lug recesses. With the blade units so installed, base 12 is assembled with body 14 by snapping projections 50 into recesses 70, making use of chamfering 52 for camming.

The dispenser package thus provides five blade units and an empty used blade unit compartment. Typically the shaving system is sold with a dummy blade unit installed on handle 106. In use, the dummy unit on the handle is snapped into the empty dispenser compartment, and the handle is disengaged from the dummy unit by pressing button 112. A tab 72 is then broken off manually (the tapering concave finger-receiving front edge of the tab facilitating this action) to fully expose a new blade unit 20. Handle 106 is engaged with the new blade unit and the unit is pulled out of the dispenser, surfaces 35, 41, or 43 acting as cam surfaces to flex the lugs apart (FIG. 6) as unit 20 is either pivotally or linearly drawn away from floor l6. Eventually, unit 20, when fully used, is returned to its original compartment, repeating the operation described for the dummy unit, and another fresh unit 20 is installed on the handle.

A second embodiment of a dispenser package a is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The package 10a is molded as a unit of high impact styrene. Integral end walls 60a and 62a and side walls 64a and 66a define a perimeter wall that projects upwardly from the edges of rectangular, planar floor 16a. Upstanding resilient latch posts or lugs 24a, 26a are integral with floor 16a. The latch posts are arranged, as in the preceding embodiment, so that groups of four latch posts are able to engage and retain a blade unit (only one-unit 20 being shown in FIG. 7, to prevent obscuring features of the package itself). Each post is about 0.4 inch in height, 0.1 inch wide, and 0.02 inch thick. Projecting laterally from each post are two projections, the upper projection including a planar upper cam surface 38 or 44, and a planar intermediate cam surface 35 or 41, while the lower projection includes inclined surfaces 35, 35a or 41, 41a, 43, 43a. The space between the two projections defines a recess about 0.14 inch long and 0.03 inch deep which receives the end cap of a blade unit. The base 46 of the post has a length of about 0.15 inch. Upstanding planar spacer walls (0.03 inch thick and 0.3 inch high) 200, and isolator wall members (0.04 inch thick, 0.15 inch wide and 0.15 inch high) 202 are integral with floor 16 a. Walls 200 are disposed parallel to side walls 64a, 66a and walls 202 are disposed parallel to end walls 600, 62a. Locator web elements 204 are integral with both floor 16a and an end wall 60a, 62a. Each locator web element 204 includes a sloping guide surface 206.

In use, groups of four posts or lugs 24a, 26a releasably retain blade units 20 in compartments generally defined by those posts, adjacent walls 200 and 202, and the appropriate locator element 204. Removal of a fresh blade unit from, or insertion ofa used blade unit into, the package with the aid of a razor handle is accomplished described above. Walls 200 assist in preventing any debris which might fall from a used blade unit to floor 16a from coming in contact with the cutting edges of a fresh blade unit. lsolator walls 202 and locator elements 204 prevent movement of the blade units in a direction perpendicular to the gripping force of the lugs. The sloping surface 206 on each locator web guides the used blade unit into proper alignment with the posts 24a, 26a the used blade unit is deposited into an empty compartment. The spaces between posts 24a, 26a and neighboring walls a, 62a, 64a, 66a (see A' in FIG. 8) facilitates unitary molding of the package.

Other embodiments are within the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A dispenser package for a plurality of razor blade units each comprising a blade-carrying frame, said package comprising a base having a floor,

blade unit retainers adjacent said floor, effectively dividing said floor into blade unit receiving portions, and

a first component of a mechanical interlock, and

a body having a side wall,

a second component of said mechanical interlock, said components being constructed and arranged to interlock said body and said base by relative movement thereof in a direction parallel to said wall and perpendicular to said floor, and

a plurality of break-away tabs extending from said wall and, when said body and base are interlocked, respectively spaced above said blade unit receiving portions of said floor,

said body being suffiiently open so that it can be interlocked with said base after said blade units are placed in said blade unit receiving portions of said base, and so that when said tabs are broken away said blade units can be removed from said base in a direction away from said floor through said body while said base and body remain interlocked.

2. The package of claim 1 wherein said first component comprises a chamfered projection extending laterally beyond an edge of said floor, and said second component comprises a recess in a side wall of said body for receiving said projection.

3. The package of claim 1 wherein said floor has a plurality of hollows for receiving said blade units.

4. The package of claim 1 wherein said base includes resilient lugs upstanding from said floor and having opposing recesses for receiving and retaining opposite sides of said blade units.

5. The package of claim 4 wherein said lugs are provided for contacting each said blade unit frame adjacent its four comers beyond the ends of the shaving edges.

6. The package of claim 5 wherein each said recess has sloping walls providing cam surfaces to permit blade unit withdrawal from said package by a lugflexing movement of said unit away from said floor, and each said lug has a sloping cam surface at its free end 7. The package of claim 1 wherein each said tab has a bottom surface which tapers toward a concave fingerreceiving front edge. 5

8. A dispenser package for a plurality of razor blade units each comprising a blade-carrying frame, said package comprising a floor,

side walls transverse to said floor, and

resilient lugs upstanding from said floor and arranged in groups to contact each said blade unit adjacent its four corners beyond the ends of the shaving edges,

each said lug having upper and lower projections spaced above said floor and defining between them a recess for receiving a side portion of a said blade unit, each said projection having a sloping wall fac ing the said recess adjacent thereto to provide cam surfaces permitting blade unit withdrawal from said package by a lug-flexing movement of said unit awayfrom said floor, each said upper projection having a sloping surface facing away from said recess adjacent thereto to provide .a cam surface at the free end of said lug permitting blade unitinstallation in said package by a lug-flexing movement of said unit towards said floor.

9. The package of claim 8 wherein some of said lugs have on opposite sides thereof a pair of said recesses for respectively retaining two said blade units in said package.

10. A dispenser package for a plurality of razor'blade units, each blade unit comprising a frame carrying means defining opposed shaving edges, said package comprising a floor,

a recess for receiving a side portion of a said blade unit, each said projection having a sloping wall facing the said recess adjacent thereto to provide cam surfaces permitting blade unit withdrawal from said package by a post-flexing movement of said unit away from said floor, each said upper projection having a sloping surface facing away from said rccess adjacent thereto to provide a cam surface at the free end of said post permitting blade unit installation in said package by a post-flexing movement of said unit towards said floor.

11. The package of claim 10 wherein a plurality of said posts each define a pair of recesses, each said pair of recesses being on opposite sides of said post for respectively engaging surfaces of two blade units in said package.

12. The package of claim 11 wherein said posts are arranged in opposed pairs and define opposing recesses for receiving and retaining opposite sides of said blade units.

13. The package of claim 12 wherein said posts are arranged in groups of four for contacting each said blade unit frame adjacent its four corners beyond the ends of the shaving edges.

14. The package of claim 14 wherein a first member defines said floor and a first component of a mechanical interlock,

and a second member defines said perimeter wall,

a plurality of breakway tabs extending from said perimeter wall, and a second component of said mechanical interlock,

said interlock components being adapted to cooperate when said first and second members are brought together to retain said first and second members together with said tabs spaced above said floor by at least the thickness of a blade unit.

15. The package of claim 14 wherein said first mechanical interlock component comprises a chamfered projection extending laterally beyond an edge of said first member, and said second mechanical interlock component comprises a recess in said perimeter wall for receiving said projection.

16. The package of claim 15 wherein each said tab has a bottom surface which tapers toward a concave finger-receiving front edge.

j UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,797, 57 Da March 19 197 4 inventofls) Richard J. Petrillo It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Columrif 6', line 2 4, "claim 1 should be -'-claim l3-.

Signed. and sealed this 13th day of August 1974.

v Att c-st:

MCCOY 154. GIBSON, J CQMARS HALLD ANN Attest ng Officer Commissioner of Patents FORM po-josd uo-ss)", 

1. A dispenser package for a plurality of razor blade units each comprising a blade-carrying frame, said package comprising a base having a floor, blade unit retainers adjacent said floor, effectively dividIng said floor into blade unit receiving portions, and a first component of a mechanical interlock, and a body having a side wall, a second component of said mechanical interlock, said components being constructed and arranged to interlock said body and said base by relative movement thereof in a direction parallel to said wall and perpendicular to said floor, and a plurality of break-away tabs extending from said wall and, when said body and base are interlocked, respectively spaced above said blade unit receiving portions of said floor, said body being suffiiently open so that it can be interlocked with said base after said blade units are placed in said blade unit receiving portions of said base, and so that when said tabs are broken away said blade units can be removed from said base in a direction away from said floor through said body while said base and body remain interlocked.
 2. The package of claim 1 wherein said first component comprises a chamfered projection extending laterally beyond an edge of said floor, and said second component comprises a recess in a side wall of said body for receiving said projection.
 3. The package of claim 1 wherein said floor has a plurality of hollows for receiving said blade units.
 4. The package of claim 1 wherein said base includes resilient lugs upstanding from said floor and having opposing recesses for receiving and retaining opposite sides of said blade units.
 5. The package of claim 4 wherein said lugs are provided for contacting each said blade unit frame adjacent its four corners beyond the ends of the shaving edges.
 6. The package of claim 5 wherein each said recess has sloping walls providing cam surfaces to permit blade unit withdrawal from said package by a lug-flexing movement of said unit away from said floor, and each said lug has a sloping cam surface at its free end to permit blade unit installation in said package by a lug-flexing movement of said unit toward said floor.
 7. The package of claim 1 wherein each said tab has a bottom surface which tapers toward a concave finger-receiving front edge.
 8. A dispenser package for a plurality of razor blade units each comprising a blade-carrying frame, said package comprising a floor, side walls transverse to said floor, and resilient lugs upstanding from said floor and arranged in groups to contact each said blade unit adjacent its four corners beyond the ends of the shaving edges, each said lug having upper and lower projections spaced above said floor and defining between them a recess for receiving a side portion of a said blade unit, each said projection having a sloping wall facing the said recess adjacent thereto to provide cam surfaces permitting blade unit withdrawal from said package by a lug-flexing movement of said unit away from said floor, each said upper projection having a sloping surface facing away from said recess adjacent thereto to provide a cam surface at the free end of said lug permitting blade unit installation in said package by a lug-flexing movement of said unit towards said floor.
 9. The package of claim 8 wherein some of said lugs have on opposite sides thereof a pair of said recesses for respectively retaining two said blade units in said package.
 10. A dispenser package for a plurality of razor blade units, each blade unit comprising a frame carrying means defining opposed shaving edges, said package comprising a floor, a perimeter wall upstanding from said floor, and a plurality of flexible resilient latch posts upstanding from said floor and arranged in groups to secure blade units in said package, each said group of posts being arranged to engage a blade unit beyond the ends of said shaving edges, each said post having upper and lower projections spaced above said floor and defining between them a recess for receiving a side portion of a said blade unit, each said projection having a sloping wall facing the said recess adjacent thereto to provide cAm surfaces permitting blade unit withdrawal from said package by a post-flexing movement of said unit away from said floor, each said upper projection having a sloping surface facing away from said recess adjacent thereto to provide a cam surface at the free end of said post permitting blade unit installation in said package by a post-flexing movement of said unit towards said floor.
 11. The package of claim 10 wherein a plurality of said posts each define a pair of recesses, each said pair of recesses being on opposite sides of said post for respectively engaging surfaces of two blade units in said package.
 12. The package of claim 11 wherein said posts are arranged in opposed pairs and define opposing recesses for receiving and retaining opposite sides of said blade units.
 13. The package of claim 12 wherein said posts are arranged in groups of four for contacting each said blade unit frame adjacent its four corners beyond the ends of the shaving edges.
 14. The package of claim 14 wherein a first member defines said floor and a first component of a mechanical interlock, and a second member defines said perimeter wall, a plurality of breakway tabs extending from said perimeter wall, and a second component of said mechanical interlock, said interlock components being adapted to cooperate when said first and second members are brought together to retain said first and second members together with said tabs spaced above said floor by at least the thickness of a blade unit.
 15. The package of claim 14 wherein said first mechanical interlock component comprises a chamfered projection extending laterally beyond an edge of said first member, and said second mechanical interlock component comprises a recess in said perimeter wall for receiving said projection.
 16. The package of claim 15 wherein each said tab has a bottom surface which tapers toward a concave finger-receiving front edge. 